City officials in Sandpoint are defending banning the public from a meeting about oil and coal train traffic attended by three area mayors, a state senator, county commissioner and officials from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
Sandpoint Mayor Carrie Logan tells the Bonner County Daily Bee that the meeting Thursday was for information only and no actions were taken.
Sandpoint city attorney Scot Campbell says the meeting didn't have to be open to the public because there was only one county commissioner and a council member present.
The region is dealing with increased coal and oil train traffic that has many residents concerned.
The closed meeting was held on the same day Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden visited the city to educate officials about Idaho's open meeting laws.